HONG KONG — Reality dating show Goddess Matching Plan 2 found itself confronting a severe wave of cyberbullying during a press event on Thursday, with the show’s breakout star, air-conditioning technician Oscar Fang, stepping forward to shield his female co-stars from online abuse.
Fang, a blue-collar contestant cast among established actresses and influencers, has become an unlikely viral sensation. A game segment known as the “Heartbeat Phone Booth,” where actress Chen Xingyu leaned against his chest to listen to his pulse, sparked so much online chatter that netizens joked the program should be renamed Oscar Matching Plan. Fang responded with humility. “I am flattered, but I have many shortcomings,” he said. “My financial situation is not ideal.”
The Green Tea Accusation
The most intense backlash fell upon actress Ho Pui Ka, who was labeled a “green tea girl” — a Chinese slang term describing a woman who feigns innocence to manipulate others. Ho admitted the accusation deeply affected her. “When everyone described me that way, I started to doubt myself. I had to ask people what the word meant,” she revealed. She confirmed temporarily deleting a social media app to manage her mental state.
Fang immediately jumped to her defense. “She is a straightforward person. She is not a green tea type,” he stated firmly. “I am the one who created this situation. If there is any criticism, aim it all at me. I will bear it.”
Humorous Deflection, Serious Wounds
Actress Yu Ke Cheng faced separate attacks, accused of being pretentious and sexually aggressive. While she accepted general feedback, she found the sexualized allegations particularly serious. When questions turned to memes comparing her red hair to Princess Fiona from the Shrek franchise, she laughed off the jokes, praising the creativity of netizens and noting that she now calls Fang “Shrek” in a display of friendly camaraderie.
Defending the Format
Chen Xingyu and fellow participant Liang Chao Yi took time to clarify their genuine intentions for joining the show, emphasizing their search for real romantic connection. Chen Xingyu stated she chose Oscar based on his looks and her curiosity about his life as a skilled tradesman.
The conversation shifted to broader industry standards when reporters questioned the actresses about the entertainment world’s “dark rules” — a Chinese term for sexual coercion. Both young stars firmly stated they had never experienced such situations. Chen Xingyu credited the protective measures on the set of her drama Dance of the City, where all scenes were contractually agreed upon prior to filming. Liang Chao Yi echoed the sentiment, hoping she never encounters such an environment.
As the event concluded, the casting of an ordinary working man alongside established stars revealed a deep tension in modern reality television: the promise of authentic connection set against a landscape of anonymous cruelty. Whether the solidarity shown today marks a turning point in how the industry handles online abuse remains an open question, but the message from the cast was clear. Vulnerability on screen does not invite a license to hurt.